Federal Vaccine Recommendations Have Changed

Recent changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations may leave you wondering what they mean for your child. One thing is important to understand from the start: The science behind the childhood vaccine schedule has not changed.

On August 10, a new executive order recognized changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations. Under the new recommendations, immunizations against 11 diseases are routinely recommended for all children, while others are based on individual risk or shared decision-making between families and healthcare providers.

Those changes do not alter the decades of scientific evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of the childhood vaccine schedule UVP recommends.

At Utah Valley Pediatrics, our mission is to keep children healthy and safe. The science has not changed, and neither has our recommendation. We continue to support the American Academy of Pediatrics’ childhood immunization schedule.

Why UVP Continues to Recommend the AAP Schedule

Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death in children. The AAP childhood vaccine schedule is based on decades of scientific research and is designed to protect children at the ages when they are most vulnerable.

Joseph Hershkop, M.D., a pediatrician at Utah Valley Pediatrics, says UVP will always respect parents’ decisions about how and when to vaccinate their children. He also says the evidence behind the core vaccine schedule UVP has recommended for 20 years remains strong.

“Vaccines are timed to protect children when they are most vulnerable to diseases that can cause hospitalization, brain damage, lifelong complications, or death,” Dr. Hershkop says. “The principles behind the schedule and its safety record are well established.”

That confidence is personal, too. UVP pediatricians vaccinate their own children according to the same schedule they recommend to patients.

Why Vaccination Still Matters in Utah

Utah families are seeing the continued threat of vaccine-preventable disease close to home. More than 500 Utah residents have been diagnosed with measles in 2026 amid an ongoing outbreak.

Generations of evidence show that the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective. The combined vaccine also requires fewer injections and fewer visits to a healthcare provider.

Reduced vaccination rates can leave more children vulnerable to diseases the U.S. has largely contained through widespread immunization.

Ryan Gottfredson, D.O., MPH, a pediatrician at Utah Valley Pediatrics, says the overwhelming body of evidence continues to support AAP guidance for infant and childhood vaccines.

“Many things change over time, but the efficacy and safety of this schedule has not,” Dr. Gottfredson says. “What we do see consistently over time is in communities where rates of these vaccines in children fall below certain thresholds, outbreaks of these serious and life-threatening infections occur.”

Have Questions? Talk With Your Pediatrician

Changing recommendations and conflicting messages can make it difficult to know what to do. Utah Valley Pediatrics remains committed to helping families make informed decisions about their children’s health.

“We will always listen to your concerns,” Dr. Hershkop says. “At a time of conflicting messages, we encourage you to ask the doctor you trust with your child’s health and listen to what they have to say.”

If you have questions or concerns about vaccines or your child’s recommended schedule, talk with your pediatrician.

Vaccines save lives, and our focus will always be on protecting children and promoting their well-being.